TRENTON — In the middle of Gov. Chris Christie’s battle with public employee unions, a veteran attorney for the commission that resolves disputes between the state and its workforce was abruptly ousted, prompting an outcry from commissioners and labor attorneys.

Ira Mintz, who was hired in 1985 when a Republican was in office, served as a staff attorney and general counsel to the Public Employment Relations Council until January. In his 25 years with the commission, Mintz said he never saw a career staff member fired without cause.

"I have been told there will be seismic change," Mintz said. "I would have been an obstacle because I’m a professional and I think cases should be decided on the facts."

Christie’s office said politics was not part of the decision.

In the governor’s first year in office, PERC sided with employee unions when Christie tried to void an agreement they had made with former Gov. Jon Corzine to get the day after Thanksgiving off for working Lincoln’s Birthday.

While no one has confirmed it publicly, PERC Commissioner Pat Colligan, a labor representative on the committee from the Police Benevolent Association, suggested the Black Friday decision contributed to Mintz’s termination.

"To see him get fired — they’ll call it a retirement, but he was told he was being terminated — that is a real disgrace," Colligan said.

Commissioners and members of the Labor and Employment Board of the New Jersey Bar Association expressed outrage over Mitnz’s departure, saying it raised fears the commission would no longer be able to act independently of the administration.

"I think there is not an interest on the part of the administration on maintaining a positive and fair relationship with labor and management," Commissioner Sharon Krengel said. "It was striking to me that a new chair would come in and fire someone who had so very much experience, a stellar reputation and who contributed greatly to the optimal running of PERC."

Steven Cohen, a veteran labor lawyer who represents public employees like teachers, cops and firefighters, said PERC is a "model agency" that’s been damaged by the administration.

"What’s the message to the people of the agency, when your key guardian of how an agency is supposed to run is unceremoniously dumped?" he said. "It’s very disheartening."

In what Mintz described as a "15-second conversation," on Dec. 20, Commission Chairwoman P. Kelly Hatfield informed him he had two weeks to resign or be terminated, he said. Mintz opted to retire as of Jan. 3. Hatfield, a Republican, had been chair of the commission for three weeks when she asked Mintz to leave.

Thousands of protesters rally in Trenton More than 3,000 people filled the street in front of the Statehouse in Trenton to protest benefit concessions demanded by Governor Christie. The crowd was also supporting Wisconsin public unions who are fighting their Governor's attempt to roll back their collective bargaining rights. (Video by Andre Malok/The Star-Ledger)

Citing confidentiality in personnel matters, Hatfield said she couldn’t speak about Mintz’s employment. She denied politics or the governor’s office had anything to do with it, calling any claims to the contrary "unfounded gossip" and "ridiculous."

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said it’s simply change that occurs with a new administration. "It’s no more complex or sinister than that," Drewniak said. "All government institutions, including PERC, need a new approach and new leadership now and again, and we certainly have full faith in the abilities and leadership of Kelly Hatfield."

Hatfield, who worked on Christie’s gubernatorial campaign, holds a Ph.D in microbiology but has no background in labor or law. Hatfield said her involvement with negotiations while on the Summit town council and school board made her want to be involved in the "great opportunity" at PERC.
Chris Megerian contributed to this report.